232 TIMBER AND TIMBER TREES. [ce 
the small and medium size trees. Very great care 
therefore necessary in the conversion of this wood, 
ensure the production of the deals and other scantlit 
of the required dimensions free from sap, the difficu 
being often enhanced by the fact that in working on fr 
logs, the sap can scarcely be distinguished from the he: 
wood, although, if exposed a short time only to 
atmosphere, the difference soon becomes visible, 
moisture of the latter drying up more rapidly, and leav 
it lighter in colour. The Dantzic converter is, howe. 
by dint of practice, generally so correct in his judgme 
that he seldom fails to obtain all that he requires, e 
from logs which have a very unpromising appearance. 
Previous to shipment at Dantzic, the whole of 
timber in the rafts is carefully sorted over, and the t 
of the round wood, z.c., the longest, straightest, and fir 
pieces, and those most free from knots, are selected 
exportation, under the name of “hand masts,” very li 
®being required to be done to them beyond topping th 
off to the established length, which is proportioned 
their diameter. A few trees, perhaps, which are 
perfectly fair and straight in their growth, being trimn 
or dressed as may be necessary to make them appear 
“Hand mast” is a technical term applied by 
mast-maker to a round spar, holding at the least 24, ; 
not exceeding 72, inches in circumference. They 
measured by the hand of 4 inches, there being als 
fixed proportion between the number of hands in 
length of the mast and those contained in the circ 
. ference, taken at one-third of the length from 
butt-end. All the round pieces which measure less t 
24 inches in circumference at the base are simply ca 
spars or poles, while those which measure more than 
inches in circumference are generally dressed to 
